Premier League clubs have been presented with detailed plans for a return to training as part of the proposals to resume fixtures, but with massages and ice baths off the table, worries over injury are mounting

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Premier League stars may only be able to train fully for “two or three days” before being expected to play again.

And there are fears that it will lead to a raft of injuries and cause a potential roadblock for Project Restart with games set to return from June 12.

It comes after clubs were presented with detailed plans for a return to training as part of the Premier League’s proposals to resume fixtures next month.

Players have been left concerned about injuries being a major factor amid other fears about their own health and safety - and potential knock-on effects for their family members.

The clubs are understandably taking such strong precautions over training that it could be phased back in four stages, according to one club source.

Arsenal have returned to training, while maintaining social distancing procedure (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Some clubs - including Arsenal, Tottenham and Brighton - have already returned to training under strict supervision and also on a purely individual basis.

The Premier League will meet again on Monday - 24 hours after the next Government update on lockdown - and are then expected to vote on proposals to play the remaining fixtures behind closed doors at neutral venues.

That would also see teams return to training from May 18 with up to five players - four outfield players and one keeper - on a pitch at any one time but without full contact.

(Image: Getty Images for Premier League)

There is expected then to be small groups of contact training before full training could resume in the week beginning Monday, June 8.

However, one club told Mirror Sport they fear they will get as little as two or three days of full contact training before the games resume because the Premier League don't want to risk the chances of infection - and that would be asking for trouble.

Players would be thrust back into full action on the back of a long lay-off, staggered training which is a long way from the normal demands of a pre-season and very limited contact sessions - before being asked to play in arguably the most physically demanding league in the world.

The guidelines also state that no soft tissue massages will be allowed and one club medic insisted that some players rely heavily on massages both before and after sessions as their daily routine.

Without massages and other treatments, they would expect big numbers of muscle pulls and tears. Ice baths and cryotherapy sessions are also off the table.

Some clubs have asked the Premier League to expand squad numbers to help them through the congested fixture list as they fear an injury pile-up.

Mirror Sport revealed last week the seven page document surrounding a return to training which was presented to the clubs which included designated parking spaces three places away from anyone else, all balls would be sanitised by staff wearing PPE and no buildings would be open.

Man City striker Aguero has spoken out about worries over returning (Image: REUTERS)

The vote next Monday is likely to be finely poised as at least six clubs have voiced concerns and one told Mirror Sport that, even though the training plans were in depth and detailed, there was a lack of information surrounding the return to games.

They insisted they would be asked to vote for a scenario of a return to action and, apart from neutral venues being proposed, there was little else forthcoming on the guidelines surrounding games.

There are also big concerns from medics about whether players will be honest about their own health and if they will report symptoms should they feel them just before a game.

Even though tests will be done twice-a-week, would a positive show up in the 48 hour window before a game while some medics have expressed concerns about feeling under pressure to persuade players to play.

One admitted: “I think we can do it, but it will be very tricky with so many risks and unknowns.”

That seems to be at the heart of the debate.

Clubs and players believe a return to action is possible - but whether it is practical, safe and ethical is quite another matter.